Duplex safety apparatus foe steam cylinders



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J. RYAN. 4

DUPLEX SAFETY APPARATUS FOR STBAMCYLINDERS. No. 304,757. Patented Sept.9, 1884.

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J. RYAN.

DUPLEX SAFETY APPARATUS FOR STEAM GYLINDERS. No. 304,757. A l PatentedSept. 9, 1884.

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DUPLEX SAFETY APPARATUS POR STEAM GYLINDERS.

Patented Sept. 9, 1884.

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JOSEPH RYAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,757, datedSeptember 9, 1884.

Application filed January 21, 1884.

T all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOSEPH RYAN, a citizen of the United States, residingat St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new andusefulImproved Duplex Safety Apparatus for Relieving Steam-Cylinders, of whichthe following is a specification.

|Ihe special objects of my invention are to effect the completedischarge through the blow-off cocks of Whatever water of condensationhas not been previously discharged through the cylinder-cock, or todischarge the Water left in the cylinder, owin g to a prem ature closingof the valve in the cylinder-cock before the piston has fully completedits stroke, and otherwise by the duplex action of both cylinder andblow-off cocks (constituting the entire duplex safety apparatus) toprevent the piston crowding against a body of undischarged water, and sothat the piston can complete its 4every stroke without back-pressismillustrated in the accompanying drawings,

in which- Figure l, Sheet I, is a side elevation showing my duplexsafety apparatus applied and used with an ordinary steam-cylinder. Fig.2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2 2, to better show the internalconstruction of the cylindercock and the hand-lever mechanism` tooperate the blow-ofi` cocks. ,Fig 3, Sheet II, is an enlarged view ofthe apparatus, partly in section and side elevation, with thehand-levers arranged to close the blow-oifcocks. Fig. 4 is a bottoinplanof Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation online5 5 of same parts shownin Fig. 3, but representing the blow-ofil cockas having been opened by apartial turn movement of the hand mechanism. Figs. 6 and 7 representmore especially the respective blowoii'' cocks when opened by thepressure in the cylinder and closed by spring-pressure, the

(No model.)

by the pressure in the steam-cylinder, and all said last-named guresbelonging to the modiiication illustrated in Fig. 8.

A represents the steam-cylinder with piston as ordinary.

B B represent the inlet-pipes, which join by T-branches b b to therespective blow-off cocks C C', whichv are in communication with thecylinder-cock, and combinedly constitute the duplex safety apparatus, aswill hereinafter appear. Both blow-off cocks C C are duplicates, havingthe same parts and operating in the same way; hence in describing one ofthem the same letters of reference apply to the other. Each blow-offcock has the upper and lower chambers, c c. rlhrough the former freecommunication is had from steam-cylinder to the cylinder-cock or itsvalve-chambers and central outlet or discharge, while through the lowerchamber, c', and its port c2 similar communication from steam-cylinder(through the blow-off cock) is had to the sub-barrel and central outletof the cylinder-cock. (See Figs.

2, 3, 5, 6, 7.) Further, each blow-off cock has a valve-seat, c, andvalves 0.4,Awhich control the discharge of water from steam-cylinderthrough the blow-off cocks-that is to say, it is these valves that areadapted to open automatically at a given pressure to allow only whateverwater in the steam-cylinder has not been previously discharged throughthe cylinder-cock to pass through and out of the blow-off cocks anddischarge from the central outlet of cylinder-cock.

Each Valve c'l has a long stem, d, with surrounding sprng d', thebearing of these springs being, respectively, on the under side of thevalves and against a threaded follower, l), as more clearly shown inFigs. 6, 9. The valvestems pass through these followers, and the lattercan be screwed in or out from the threaded end of the central sleeves,E, for purposes of E', can be readily joined to the lower end of eachmain barrel, as indicated in Figs. ll, 3, 5, 6, 7. By means of thefollowers D, the tension of each spring can be graduated to suit the IOOrequired pressure necessary to automatically open each valve in theblow-off cocks. When the pressure in the steam-cylinder overcomes thisset pressure, the valves open, and the discharge of water fromsteam-cylinder takes the course through the blow-off cocks, as per thearrows in Figs. G, 7, 11. )Vhen the said pressure is inadequate toovercome the tension of the springs, the latter keep the valves in eachblow-off eoek closed, (sce Figs. 6, 9,) and the discharge will only bethrough the cylindercock.

In connection with each blow-off cock G C', I have provided handmechanism for purposes of a general drainage ofthe steam-cylinder oreffect a general blow-off 7 from same through the apparatus; hence eachcentral sleeve E has a quick-screw, e', in which engages the threadedhub or collar cL of a hand-lever, F, as shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6, 7. Thehand-lever collar e2 bears against a movable sleeve, G, which surroundsthe lower end of the valve-stein, the latter having screw-nuts g, bymeans whereof, in case the hand-lever is partially turned, said sleeve Gforces the valve stem downward, opens its valve, and the position of theparts will be as shown in Figs. 5, 10, permitting a general blow-off totake place. By reversing the hand-levers the tension ofthe springscloses the valves,and the parts restored will be in the closed conditionshown in Figs. 3, G, 9. When in said condition, the blow-off cocksoperate only subject to the pressure in the steam-cylinder being greatenough to open the valves. For convenience, the hand-levers F can beconnected together to operate simultaneously, as indicated in Figs. 1,2, 3, 4, and S. y

H represents the cylinder-cock. (See Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, S.) Thecylinder-cock consists of the valve-chambers h 7L', valve-seats h2 h,valves 7L* h5, having stems if hl, projecting from each side, andguided, respectively, by the cored partition its, and the screw-caps HH, that close the ends of the cylinder-cock. (See Figs. 2, 3, 8.) H" isthe sub-barrel in communication from each valve-chamber to the centraloutlet, H, as shown.

The complete operation can be stated as follows: Vhen the piston ismoving toward the pipe B, (see Figs. l and 8,) thevalve in cylinder-cockis open, and the discharge of water takes place as per the arrows insaid figures, the opposite valve in cylindercock being closed by thepressure of the live steam, and at saine time both valves in theblow-oft' cocks are kept closed bythe tension of their springs. Thisautomatic action on part the cylindercock is reversed on reversal of thestroke of the piston. |The duplex action of both cylinder and blow-offcocks consists, however, in the following operation: Supposing thepist0n nears the clearance ofthe steam-cylinder, and preparatory tobeing cushioned for reversal of its stroke, (sce Figs. 1 and 8,) thepressure of the live steam becomes reduced, and a consequent' greaterpressure upon the undischarged water taking place forces the valve inthe cylinderlcock to close prematurely, or before the piston hascompleted its stroke; hence,were there no provision for the escape ofsaid water, it forms a solid resistance between the cylinder-head andpiston, destroying the advantages of clearance and cushion, and damagingthe mechanism and its operation. It is at such a time of action that theblow-off cocks assist or coact with the cylinder-cock, the greaterpressure upon the undischarged water overcoming the previously-settension of the springs, open the valve in the blow-off cock, (see Figs.7, 10,) and the piston can complete its full stroke, forcing before itall water through the open blow-off cock and out of final discharge. Bythis duplex action a more perfect removal of water, condensation, &c.,before the moving piston is achieved, the blow-off cocks eoacting withthe cylinder-cock to produce a complete result, and the piston canreciprocate or at all times finish its stroke without encountering backpressure, and with greater ease and safety.

)Vhat I claim is- 1. The improved blow-off cock consisting of the upperand lower chambers, c c, port valve-seat c, valve c, its stem d,surrounded with spring d', the threaded follower D, its collar d2,packing. d", central sleeve, E, having shoulder e, and coupling E, bymeans whereof the tension of the spring can be set for the valve to openat a given pressure, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with a blow-off cock having valve-chamber c, port c2,valve-seat c3, valve c, its stem d, spring d', threaded follower D,central sleeve, E, coupling E', the quick-screw e on central sleeve,hand-lever F, having threaded collar c2, the lower sleeve, G, and nutsg, by means whereof said blow-off cock can be'opcrated by said handmechanism, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A duplex safety apparatus for relieving steam-cylinders of water,consisting of a duplicate arrangement of valves, one for each end of thecylinder, and adapted to open automatically at a given pressure, incombination with an 4automatic cylinder-cock, 'the parts being arrangedto coact in the manner substantially as described, and for the purposesstated.

4. The combination, in a duplex safety apparatus for relievingsteam-cylinders of water, of the following elements: first, a duplicatearrangement of valves, one for each end of the steam-cylinder, andadapted to open automatically at a given pressure; second, means foroperating said valves by hand; and, third, an automatic cylinder-cock,substantially as herein described, and for the purposes set forth.

JOSEPH RYAN.

Vitnesses:

WILLIAM W. HERTHEL, JOHN NV. HERTHEL.

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